Iran rejects UNSC's criticism on nuclear program: spokesman

TEHRAN, April 20 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman on Saturday rejected a UN Security Council statement calling Tehran's nuclear program a threat to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, Press TV reported.

On Friday, five permanent members of the UN Security Council in a statement described Iran's "continued pursuit of certain nuclear activities" as a threat to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), according to the report.

Ramin Mehmanparast, the spokesman, said "we are a committed member of the IAEA, one of the first countries that signed the NPT and we are committed to our obligations under the treaty."

He added that Iran is continuing its "completely peaceful nuclear program" under the constant supervision of IAEA inspectors and "we will continue our cooperation with the IAEA."

After the two-day nuclear talks between Iran and the P5+1 group, namely five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany, concluded on April 6 in Almaty of Kazakhstan, both sides said that the gap of positions over some key points could not be bridged.

While Iranian officials said any mechanism to settle Iran's nuclear issue in the talks should take into consideration Iran's right to uranium enrichment activities, the proposal by the world powers asked Tehran to suspend its uranium enrichment and shut down its underground Fordow enrichment facilities in return for limited sanction lift.

We recommend:
Funeral of Thatcher held at St. Paul's Cathedral	Chinese student hurt in Boston marathon blasts	Israel marks its Independence Day
Seven killed in Venezuelan post-election protests	The White House opens its garden to the public	The world in photos